A FAMILY OF HEROES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 204, 17 May 1918, Page 6

A FAMILY OF HEROES

HOW CAPT. OSCAR GALLIE, M.C., D.5.0., DIED CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY Among the many families the members ot which have covered themselves with un <Jying glory in shouldering their share °j tl L e umpire's burden, are the sons of Mr. John Gallie, of 17 Stoke Street, Newtown. Some may remember the details (that were published in Tnu Dominion) ot the manner in which Captain Oscar Eugeno Gallic, of the Royal Field Artillery, gained the Military Cross in the first week of September last. Three weeks later this gallant officer so distinguished himself in one of the hottest ot actions, and worked his guns in such advanced positions that he gave the very greatest aid to the other batteries, and his recommendation for the D.S.O. had the hearty endorsement of every battery commander engaged in the action. Tho incident is officially recorded in the London "Gazette" of March 22, of which Mr. John Gallie has received a copy, too late, however, for the person most con"Wfl'o see, for Captain Oscar Gallic, M.C., D.5.0., was killed in action on IX'cembor 8 last. What type of soldier tins Wellington lad turned out to be (remembering that ho was but a clerk in tho Mastorton branch of Dalgety and Co when the Empire called) may best lie judged from the Gazette notice itself, which reads as follows :—

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. His battery was very heavily shelled while in action, fouf guns wore destroyed, and ammunition dumps were set on fire. He set the battery a splendid example by walking up and down encouraging the remaining detachments and putting out ires. Later, the battery was again heavily shelled when firing in reply to an S.O.S. signal, ana he again behaved with the utmost gallantry, encouraging the men, putting out fires and keeping his guns firing. He set a magnificent example of courage and devotion to duty throughout the operations.

Captain Oscar Gallie has two brothers at the front, and that they, too, are built of the stuff that makes heroes is wric in their records. Captain Victor Gallic, also of the Royal Field Artillery, lias already won the Military Cro.ss for conspicuous gallantry on the field, and has been appointed acting-major. To achieve such a position in a crack regiment such as the R.F.A. is indesd an honour and a credit to the Wellington man who before (he war was employed in the local branch of the Union Bank of Australia.

• M s,' G , a , l ! i ?' senr -- has y et another son 0110 11 /. n- lck of the fra >'> Private Clio ~<• ."v L y h ° went aWfl y with the Iwenty-sixth Reinforcements last year and has since been promoted to be lancecorporal, and recommended for the Military Medal.

Private Clio Gallie, writing to his v-l ,?& ut the deilth of u 's brother Victor Mnnnie"), says:-"Do not grieve, but rather rejoico at the great honour you have-as I do-in being father or mother, brother or sister, to such a man as lie. Ho was great and gallant, am. respected and loved by all, especially in hZ I°*? n attory ' who him bbst. Oscar was a man who absolutely knew no fear. Major Richards told mo that he was 'a little wonder of untiring energy,' and that it was a sight to see him shifting his battery among the boggy shell-holes under shell-fire. Oscar was tho best officer the maior had ever been associated with for the quick emplacement of a battery to a new position-exactly like Captain Kettle, quick, alert, aggressive, and ' 'vinegary' the major said. The littlo man lived a useful, valuable life for his < ountry and accomplished great work-such as ho cannot at all tho spared. Our little man died a groat death-as he would have chosen. He was in command of his battery, and with two of his officers and a couple of n.o.o's was in a captured pill-box planning out the removal of tho guns to a more suitable position. Fritz's tiro was particularly heavy at the time, and Oscar was advised to retire, but he refused for the reason that if he could only get a few guns on to another position ho would then surely be able to silence the Hun guns, lie took counsel with his officers and n.c.o.'s, they ail agreed to do as lie directed. So it was decided. They were in the pill-box at the time, and Oscar had just risen from tho table and was standing with his legs apart and hands deep in his pockets when a big U.K. lauded light in the doorway. When those who were not hurt got lights going they saw the skipper still standing with his back to the table. His hoad was a trifle bent backwards, but he was gone. Swift concussion' had ended all. And so died as bravo and gallant a soldier as over pleased the King to shake hands with nnd decorate twico. . . . They gave 'Mnnnie' the greatest sond-off ever known along the sector. With full military honours they buried him. Sight biack horses drew the gun carriage. Over 180 peoplo were there, apart from the battery. The voico of tho padre could not bo heard, and hardly audible were the silver bugles sounding the 'Last Post.' Even the shots of the firing party sounded very faint. High in the air five great Gotba 'planes circled, their motors buzzing loudly and angrily, and to the sound of crashing bombs and bursting shrapnel they laid 'Manuie' to rest." Sinoo the above letter was written the writer has been severely wounded in the face during the big Gorman push on April 1. Tho first cablegram received from his wounded boy (who was a farmer at Te Kuiti) wns—"Blighted. Hooray I"

Sympathy of King and Queen. Mr. Gallie, senr., has received the, following letter from England conveying the sympathy of the King and Qnoen of .England in his bereavement:— Buckingham Palace, December 21, 1917. Dear Sir-Tho King f.nd Queen deeply regret to hear tho loss you and tho Army have sustained by the death of your son in the service of his oomitry, and I am commanded to convey to you the expression et llieir Majesties' true sympathy you in your sorrow. _.„ T (Sgd) W. M. GIBSON, Keeper of tho Privy Purse.